Intrauterine fetal death due to rupture of umbilical vessels: a rare case of furcate cord insertion.

Furcate cord insertion refers to the separation of umbilical vessels before reaching the placenta, where the branching vessels normally attach at the edge of the placental parenchyma or near the placental membranes. This is an extremely rare abnormal umbilical cord insertion. This paper reported a case of a furcate cord insertion, where the rupture of exposed umbilical vessels led to intrauterine fetal death at full term. Through literature review, we analyzed the prenatal ultrasound characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of furcate cord insertions, with the aim to improve detection rates and reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

A case of intrauterine fetal death related to furcate cord insertion: a brief review of the literature and professional liability considerations.

The furcate insertion of the umbilical cord is an uncommon abnormality, often asymptomatic, potentially dangerous, or lethal for the fetus and the mother. This report shows the case of a healthy 29-year-old patient, at 37 weeks of gestation, admitted to the hospital two days before the due date because of the appearance of uterine contractions; clinical exams were regular. The following day, no fetal movements were perceived, a cardiotocography was performed, showing the absence of fetal heartbeat. A dead fetus was delivered. Autopsy showed furcate insertion of the umbilical cord and the rupture of the umbilical vessel, which caused fetal hemorrhagic shock. Furcate insertion still remains mostly undiagnosed and rarely it can be identified prenatally (only three cases are reported in literature). Future research, mainly in forensic fields, could improve the knowledge about this condition, helping prenatal diagnosis and providing warnings that can prevent similar deaths in the future.

Prenatal diagnosis of abnormal umbilical cord insertion: a rare case of furcate insertion.

Furcate insertion (FI) is an extremely rare abnormality of umbilical cord insertion. One of the complications associated with FI is hemorrhage from the umbilical vein at the site of FI of the umbilical cord, which can cause sudden intrauterine fetal death. Because of its rarity, no prenatal diagnosis of FI has been reported. A 31-year-old woman at 34 weeks' gestation was referred to us for suspected abnormal cord insertion. Ultrasonography showed normal fetal growth and amniotic fluid volume, with no fetal anomalies. Although the umbilical cord contained three vessels inserted at the center of the placenta, the umbilical vessels separated from the cord substance before their insertion to the placenta. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with FI. During labor at 37 weeks' gestation, fetal heart rate was normal and a healthy neonate was delivered. At macroscopic examination, the umbilical cord was inserted in the middle of the placenta, and the placental parenchymal tissue just under the cord insertion was deficient and had been changed to white, elastic hard tissue. Pathological examination of the white tissue revealed fibrin deposition and focal infarction. Although FI is a very rare condition, prenatal diagnosis can be achieved through detailed color Doppler ultrasound studies. Therefore, taking precautions and keeping in mind the poor fetal outcome associated with FI are preferred.